Research News

Peer Specialist Global Recognition Day

October 15, 2015

In honor of the first Peer Specialist Global Recognition Day, VA Under Secretary for Health David Shulkin, MD, sent a message to the VA community about the importance of "peer specialists," in particular as part of VA mental healthcare teams. In this capacity, peer specialists are Veterans who are in recovery from mental health conditions. Not only do they provide examples of successful recovery and support to their fellow Veterans, they also act as "system navigators that are invaluable in linking Veterans with the services they need, since they once used those same services."

HSR&D has long recognized the potential significance of peer support in helping Veterans with a variety of conditions. Please see a video featuring Marcia Valenstein, MD, part of HSR&D's Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR), who speaks about peer-to-peer support for Veterans with depression. Also see below for a list of HSR&D studies on peer support.

HSR&D studies on the value of peer support include:

• A Brief Community Linkage Intervention for Dually Diagnosed Individuals
• A Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of a Wellness Self-Management Program
• A Pilot Study of CPAP Adherence Promotion by Peer Buddies with Sleep Apnea
• Adapting Tools to Implement Stroke Risk Management to Veterans
• Aligning Resources to Care for Homeless Veterans (ARCH)
• Caring for the Caregivers of Veterans: Planning a National Program Evaluation
• Development of a Peer Visitation Program for SCI Veterans and Caregivers
• Employment as a Peer Support Technician: Impact on Mental Health Recovery
• Evaluating a Peer Visitor Program for OIF/OEF Veterans with Polytrauma
• Evaluation of Peer Telephone Cessation Counseling for Smokers
• Evidence-Based Review of Peer Support
• Improving Depression Management through Peer Support
• Improving Insulin Therapy with Enhanced Care Management and Peer Support
• Improving Outcomes for Homeless Veterans with Peer Support
• Improving Pain using Peer RE-inforced Self-management Skills (IMPPRESS)
• Linking National Guard Veterans with Need to Mental Health Care
• National Guard Outreach and Linkage to Treatment
• Peer Visitation for OIF/OEF Veterans with PT/BRI and Their Caregivers
• Pilot Evaluation of AboutFace: A Novel Peer Education Resource for Veterans
• Program to Improve Adherence to Colonoscopy: Interviews with Veterans
• Supporting Education Goals of OIF/OEF Veterans with PTSD: Pilot Process & Outcome
• Technology-Assisted peer support for recently hospitalized depressed Veterans
• Technologically-Enhanced Coaching (TEC):A Program for Improving Diabetes Outcomes
• Using Peer Mentors to Support PACT Team Efforts to Improve Diabetes Control
• Veteran Peer-Assisted Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression
• Web-Based Delivery of MOVE! to Veterans With Serious Mental Illness
• Working with Veterans Organizations to Encourage Use of My HealtheVet
• Working with Veterans Organizations to Improve Blood Pressure